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House Toughens Penalties for Sexual Assault
HB 297 Would Make Drug, Alcohol Use Aggravating Factor

(JUNEAU) - The House today unanimously passed House Bill 297, which would make the use of drugs or excessive alcohol to facilitate a sexual assault an aggravating factor that could bring more severe sentences to those convicted of such assaults.

Rep. Kevin Meyer (R-Anchorage) introduced HB 297 in response to the increasing use of such so-called "date-rape drugs" as GBH and rohypnol, or "ruffies," which are used to render victims both less resistant to coercion and less able to remember details of the assault, he said.

"Every day we hear on the news how sexual assault continues to be a crime that devastates our communities," said Meyer, who serves on the board of directors of the non-profit organization Standing Together Against Rape. "This bill adds an aggravating factor that says when drugs or alcohol are used to incapacitate a person to the point they become a victim of sexual assault, the seriousness of the crime should be elevated in the eye of the court."

House Bill 297 would create a new aggravating factor in state law that would allow a judge to impose stiffer penalties on defendants who use drugs or excessive amounts of alcohol to lower their victims' inhibitions to the point where they become easy prey to sexual assault.

The bill does not create a new offense, but in cases where the use of drugs or alcohol to facilitate a sexual assault was proven at trial, judges would have the authority to impose a more severe presumptive penalty on offenders, up to the maximum term of imprisonment for the offense.

"By allowing expanded penalties for such attacks, we are sending a clear message that our society finds such behavior unacceptable," Meyer said.

HB 297 moves next to the Senate for consideration.

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